[Congressional Record: January 23, 2008 (Senate)]
[Page S159]
U.S.S. ``Pueblo''--40th Anniversary
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise now, 40 years since the North
Korean government unlawfully captured the lightly armed U.S.S. Pueblo
while it was on a routine surveillance mission in international waters.
The U.S.S Pueblo was the first ship of the U.S. Navy to be hijacked on
the high seas by a foreign military force in more than 150 years, and
is currently the only commissioned U.S. naval vessel that is in the
possession of a foreign nation. Forty years ago today, 83 crew members
were kidnapped and 1 sailor was killed in the assault. Following the
capture, our men were held in deplorable, inhumane conditions for more
than 11 months before being released. While we were grateful to see the
return of our brave sailors, 40 years later we are still waiting for
the return of the U.S.S. Pueblo.
The U.S.S. Pueblo remains a commissioned naval ship and property of
the U.S. Navy. Currently, the North Korean government flaunts the
Pueblo as a war trophy and a tourist attraction in Pyongyang, North
Korea's capital. We must not continue to remain silent about North
Korea's continued violation of international law by possessing our
ship, the U.S. Navy's ship. Each day tourists visit and tour the U.S.S.
Pueblo, similar to the way visitors see retired naval ships in New York
and San Diego. Americans in particular are encouraged to be
photographed by the U.S.S. Pueblo. As recently as April 2007, it was
reported that President Kim Jong Il stated that the Pueblo should be
used for ``anti-American education.'' North Korea's capture of the
U.S.S. Pueblo is in blatant violation of international law and the
further exploitation of the Pueblo is tasteless and disingenuous. I
believe 40 years of relative silence on this issue is far too long, and
it is important that the Senate take action and denounce the current
situation.
The U.S.S. Pueblo bears the name of the town of Pueblo, CO, a city
with a proud military tradition and is the only city to be home of four
living Medal of Honor recipients simultaneously. In fact, in 1993
Congress deemed Pueblo the ``Home of Heroes'' for this unique
distinction. Many in our State and all over the country want to see the
vessel returned to its proper home. To this end, I am reintroducing a
resolution seeking the return of the U.S.S. Pueblo to the U.S. Navy.
This bill is cosponsored by my good friend and proud veteran, Senator
Daniel Inouye, and I encourage all of our colleagues on both sides of
the aisle to support this legislation and see to it that the U.S.S.
Pueblo is returned to the U.S. Navy.
Mr. President I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
an editorial that appeared in the Pueblo Chieftain today regarding the
anniversary.
As that editorial says, ``Mr. President, bring back the U.S.S.
Pueblo.''
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Pueblo Chieftain, Jan. 23, 2008]
Infamy
Today marks the 40th anniversary of what for Puebloans is a
day that shall live in infamy. On Jan. 23, 1968, naval and
air forces of North Korea attacked and took hostage the USS
Pueblo and its crew.
The Pueblo was a Navy intelligence ship operating in
international waters. Despite that, the Stalinist regime in
Pyongyang decided on a bold course of action and sent patrol
boats and MiG fighters to harass the lightly armed U.S.
vessel.
This was during the height of the Vietnam War, and the
North Koreans correctly figured that American military brass
weren't focused on the American spy ship's mission. They were
right.
Armed only with one .50-caliber machine gun, the Pueblo
crew tried to fend off the advancing Communist forces, to no
avail. One crewman was killed while comrades tried to destroy
as much equipment and paperwork as possible.
But the die was cast. The North Koreans boarded the Pueblo
and took the rest of the crew hostage.
For the next 11 months, the crew was subjected to cruel and
inhumane treatment at the hands of their captors. But the
American spirit was not to be tamed.
During propaganda photo sessions, the Yanks dutifully
smiled for the Koreans' cameras--and flashed ``the bird,''
that one-finger salute that Americans know too well but was
above the heads of the Communists.
But that did not last. When the Reds figured out what that
sign of defiance meant, the men of the Pueblo were subjected
to more severe beatings.
The man who took the worst of the pummeling was Cmdr. Lloyd
Bucher, the Pueblo's skipper. After each torture session,
he'd crawl back to his cell--and surreptitiously give his
comrades the high sign.
He, and his men, were not to be beaten.
It was exactly 11 months after the seizure when the North
Koreans freed their American captives. They were allowed to
walk one by one across the Demilitarized Zone separating
North and South Korea.
While the Pueblo crew was free, their ship was and still is
not. It is being held as a trophy of war in a river near
Pyongyang--a tourist attraction and propaganda piece for the
regime.
North Koreans have been forced at times to eat grass, so
poorly is their economy run by central planners. But they
have ``bread and circuses'' in the form of the American
intelligence ship which bears this city's name.
Many attempts have been made to persuade the North Koreans
to give the ship back to its rightful owners. When he was
governor of California, Ronald Reagan urged Washington to
bomb North Korea in order to force the ship's release.
Over the years since, numerous diplomatic moves have been
tried. Recently, at the behest of Colorado's U.S. Sen. Wayne
Allard, a Korean battle flag on display at the U.S. Naval
Academy was returned to the Hermit Kingdom as a sign of this
nation's goodwill.
That and all other overtures have thus far been fruitless.
But this incident of four decades ago remains an ugly scar on
the history of this nation, one which cannot be allowed to
continue to fester.
We realize that with the War on Terrorism in Iraq,
Afghanistan and elsewhere across the globe, there are other
pressing international security issues. But if this nation
were to show the world its resolve by getting the USS Pueblo
back, by whatever means, we would show those who think they
can bring us to our knees that we are not to be cowed.
Mr. President, bring back the USS Pueblo.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota is recognized.
[...]
SENATE RESOLUTION 423--SEEKING THE RETURN OF THE USS PUEBLO TO THE
UNITED STATES NAVY
Mr. ALLARD (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Salazar)
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 423
Whereas the USS Pueblo, which was attacked and captured by
the Navy of North Korea on January 23, 1968, was the first
ship of the United States Navy to be hijacked on the high
seas by a foreign military force in more than 150 years;
Whereas 1 member of the USS Pueblo crew, Duane Hodges, was
killed in the assault, while the other 82 crew members were
held in captivity, often under inhumane conditions, for 11
months;
Whereas the USS Pueblo, an intelligence collection
auxiliary vessel, was operating in international waters at
the time of the capture, and therefore did not violate the
territorial waters of North Korea;
Whereas the capture of the USS Pueblo resulted in no
reprisals against the Government or people of North Korea and
no military action at any time; and
Whereas the USS Pueblo, though still the property of the
United States Navy, has been retained by the Government of
North Korea for 40 years, was subjected to exhibition in the
North Korean cities of Wonsan and Hungham, and is now on
display in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) desires the return of the USS Pueblo to the United
States Navy;
(2) would welcome the return of the USS Pueblo as a
goodwill gesture from the North Korean people to the American
people; and
(3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies
of this resolution to the President, the Secretary of
Defense, and the Secretary of State.
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